GENESEE COUNTY — Seven local agencies have spent more than $1.3 million of taxpayer money on lobbyists in the last three years, shifting dollars away from local services like patching pot holes to instead woo political powerbrokers.

And the spending is increasing — up 76 percent last year, at the same time each of them faced dwindling financial resources and budget cuts.

Officials with local agencies that do spend on lobbyists aren’t apologizing for getting what they can from state and federal kitties and using any means the system allows to get it.

Mott Community College spokesman Michael Kelly said the college has spent a “reasonable” amount on two lobbying firms since 2006 and netted “tens of millions” in return.

But others question whether the payments to lobbyists are a wise investment or just more fuel for a system in which money — at least theoretically — buys access and influence.

“I don’t know that lobbyists have that much a role (in getting things done),” said U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee, D-Flint. “But apparently, they’ve convinced their clients that they do.”

Kildee, a congressman for more than three decades, said he’s seen a parade of lobbyists make the case to taxpayer-supported agencies that they’re responsible for having secured funding for a special appropriation when in fact they played little or no role.

“I just feel their role is greatly hyped,” Kildee said.

A Flint Journal review of spending found:

• The Genesee County Drain Commission led spending on lobbyists, doling out $194,000 in 2008 and nearly $539,000 since 2006, mostly to secure federal funds for infrastructure projects and in part to help efforts aimed at building a new water pipeline to Lake Huron.

• Genesee County spent nearly $200,000 with its firms monitoring legislation in Lansing and advising commissioners on the status of revenue sharing and other issues.

• The University of Michigan-Flint and Mott Community College spent nearly a half-million dollars combined since 2006, An MCC official said the spending at Mott resulted in millions in grant income the school might not otherwise have received.

• The Road Commission credits its lobbyist with helping it to pull off big projects like the reconstruction of Miller Road. It pays $3,500 per month for the professional help.

• The Genesee County Land Bank spent $35,000 in taxpayer funds in 2006. Lobbyist Corbin Consulting LLC, received the money, a portion of which was paid for activities including conducting community outreach meetings, said Land Bank Chairman Daniel T. Kildee.

• The Mass Transportation Authority spent a projected $168,000 on lobbyists since 2006, but the agency says not all those funds went for direct lobbying and acknowledged General Manager Robert Foy spent 25 percent of his time trying to influence local, state and federal officials to send more money to the public transpiration agency.

No other school district, city or township in the county reported spending on lobbyist contracts in response to requests for information from The Journal under the Freedom of Information Act.

Spending on individual lobbying firms comes on top of dues paid by agencies to state and national organizations that advocate for funding for cities, townships, school districts and counties and are part of an estimated $1 trillion spent each year nationwide by governments to lobby one another, according to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ted Henry said he believes the county is spending too much to pay for lobbyists who deliver information but questionable influence. The county spent millions in rainy day funds this year just to balance its budget and county offices have been forced to make layoffs and reduce hours they are open to the public.

“I don’t think the value is there,” said Henry, a Clayton Township Democrat. “I really question laying off people while we still spend $60,000 (on a lobbyist). I think it needs to be re-evaluated.”

That’s the advise in a new report by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, which says public entities are spending an excessive amount of tax dollars lobbying for spending that many taxpayers frequently oppose — higher taxes and bigger government.

Kelly said MCC’s rate of return amounts to more than $67 in additional state grants for each dollar spent on lobbyists. The rate of return for federal grants, excluding pell grants and other grants routinely awarded to colleges and universities, is even better: $164 for each dollar spent, he said.

Likewise, MTA points to nearly $30 million in capital grants since 2006 as evidence of the effectiveness of its lobbying.

John O’Brien, director of the county Drain Commissioner’s Office of Water and Waste Services Division, said he’s just making sure the county gets its fair share of federal funds for water and sewer projects.

“I didn’t create the system in Washington, I just have to live by those rules,” said O’Brien. “We’re competing with every other group for this funding.”

Most of the drain commission’s half-million dollar lobbying bill went to DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, a Washington firm that includes former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard as a partner.

“That’s how it is, whether you like it or not,” Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright said of the political process. “They’ve been instrumental in bringing in money ... (Spending on lobbyists) is what happens when you try to get your money back from Washington.”

One large taxpayer-supported group — Bishop Airport — hasn’t paid anything for lobbyists since 2006. Yet, it is in the midst of a $30 million project to build an intermodal facility there, much of it paid for through state and federal grants.

“We’ve just never really needed them,” said Bishop Airport Director James Rice. “We’ve been successful enough using our senators and congressman.”

Still, the business of lobbying remains a lucrative industry in Michigan with about 1,400 lobbying agents registered in this state alone, including at least two — Foy and Jerry D. Johnson, executive director of communications and development for the Genesee Intermediate School District — who work directly for taxpayer-supported groups.

Foy’s MTA also hires a separate lobbyist but the general manager said much of the work the firm does isn’t lobbying.

Former Vienna Township state legislator and state Democratic Party chairman Gary Corbin collected more than $150,000 in three years for his work with Corbin Consulting on behalf of Mott College, one-third of that for what MCC calls “community relations work with local constituents, including local businesses and local labor organizations.”

Corbin called his work for Mott a “labor of love” and said he’s been able to help the college during the state’s capital outlay process by securing funds for the Regional Technology Center and other projects.

The Journal could not reach several other lobbyists who have been paid by taxpayer-supported agencies. One lobbyist — Rick Wiener of Wiener Associates — is expected to earn $42,000 this year for working on behalf of the county Road Commission.

Kenneth Cole — a senior vice president of Governmental Consultant Services Inc., a firm used by the county Board of Commissioners — also would not comment on the issue of taxpayer-funded lobbyists or the firm’s work for the county.

Communities can’t be expected to stay politically pure when they need help in pushing for laws and policies that will benefit them, said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics.

“They feel like they are unilaterally disarming themselves” if they end their contracts with lobbyists, Ballenger said.

“You can say (the process) is deplorable but if you’re not represented,” the consequences can be worse, he added.

Jack McHugh, senior legislative analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said the goal of much taxpayer-funded lobbying is to increase government spending on pet projects, which contributes to spending more than government has available.

McHugh calls the general directive from clients to lobbyists as, “Go ye forth and bring back the loot,” and said the result can be that the area with the best lobbyist — not necessarily the best programs or public policy ideas — get the most funding.

Flushing Township Trustee Mike Gardner, who also serves as president of the county Taxed Enough Already group said the lobbying system makes the substance of projects secondary to getting all you can.

“You grab as much as you can because if you don’t, somebody else will,” he said. “It’s like kids in a candy shop. They will take as much as they can get just to have it.”